A few weeks are left, and it will be Giro d’Italia again for Team Colombia, but it’s still too early to pack luggage for Northern Ireland. Ahead of Belfast, more important fixtures expect Claudio Corti’s riders – way too prestigious to be a mere setup to the first Grand Tour of the season.

Giro del Trentino (April 22-25) is the first on schedule: in the last few years, the race established itself as the perfect preparation for those aiming at the Giro with high expectations. A team time trial and three uphill finish will test the Escarabajos’ condition, competing against some of the big names of the upcoming Corsa Rosa.

Team leader for the Italian stage race will be Fabio Duarte, who will be looking for more feedbacks on an improving condition. He will be joined by Jarlinson Pantano and Carlos Julian Quintero, both just back from some weeks of altitude training in Colombia, Leonardo Duque, Duber Quintero and Juan Esteban Arango.

“Due to some delays in delivering the UK Visas and the coincidence of several races, we were forced to make some changes to the plans and line-up we had made previously – explained Sports Director Valerio Tebaldi, who will be calling the shots in Trentino along with Oliverio Rincon – but we are confident of fielding a good, competitive and in-condition line-up, definitely capable to hold their own in such a demanding race.”

At the same time, Sports Director Oscar Pellicioli will be guiding the team in Belgium at the Fleche Wallonne (Wednesday April 23rd), first World Tour race of the season for the Escarabajos, and second of three Ardennes classic, whose triptych will be rounded out by Liege-Bastogne-Liege on Sunday April 27th.

Team Colombia will be facing the Fleche’s cotes without Colombian Champion Miguel Angel Rubiano, who was delayed in Colombia due to bureaucratic reasons, and will count on Jeffry Romero, who displayed a good condition recently, and will have a chance to play his cards in first person, as will Rodolfo Torres and Edwin Avila. At the start in Belgium will be also Robinson Chalapud – just back from Colombia’s mountains -, Darwin Pantoja, Edward Diaz, Jonathan Paredes and Juan Pablo Valencia.

“After his solid showing at Fleche Brabançonne, Jeffry has been sick, and hopefully he will be back in full strength on Wednesday – Sports Director Pellicioli explained – while we are looking forward to see what Avila will be able to do in a race like this, that could be suited to his characteristics, even though condition is always the most important requirement in the Ardennes.”